Friday, 22 June 2007

Cafod and the 'new' morality

Cafod states that it does not distribute condoms and that its programme partners may not use Cafod money for condoms. Yet, the project of western-based agencies is, as we know, to supply condoms to the third world. Cafod money may not be used for condoms, but Cafod money frees us other monies to be used for the supply, dirtibution and promotion of condoms in the third world.

Furthermore, Cafod teaches the "ABC" approach to combatting AIDS. This "third way" promotes first, abstinence, then fidelity, but if these fail, then "use a condom".

In order to defend the promotion of condoms, Cafod as a Catholic Charity, is constructing a 'new' ethics, based on "solid science and good community development practices [together] with established and evolving moral theology and Catholic social teaching." (cf Cafod's website - Feature: Positive thinking on HIV)

Cafod therefore states publicly that the teaching of Humanae Vitae regarding the intrinsic connection between the unitive and procreative dimensions of the marriage act "does not seem to apply" for people who are under threat from AIDS, and that their using contraceptives is in fact therapeutic. Moreover, Cafod states that all this is based soundly on Catholic teaching - even though Cafod "does not have a catechetical role with regard to sexual ethics."

The root of this 'new' morality which Cafod is constructing is the careful work done by Cafod's moral experts and advisors who have divorced sexual ethics from social ethics - they have separated the question of combatting AIDS with condoms from the arena of universal morality. In the question of condoms, Cafod is overtly making distinctions from the Teaching of the Church.

Now first of all, sexual and social morality cannot be separated from one another - they are essentially linked in the human person and in society. Secondly, the only possible therapeutic use of condoms would occur when the sexual act is not involved. Thirdly, a pastoral situation does not create a new morality or new moral principles. The AIDS situation certainly requires a pastoral approach - however difficult that may be to bring about and to teach.

Cafod has shown itself to have bought into the new secular morality which promotes promiscuity, infidelity and the culture of death. It is a contrived and false morality in which grace and virtue are disregarded. Fr Matthias Nsamba has said that "sending condoms to South Africa is like pouring petrol on the fire of the HIV epidemic." Can we not support those agencies - such as the "Christ the Healer Project" - which do not distribute condoms and which teach behaviour change?

The aid offered by the West to developing countries has been purely technically and materially based, and not only has left God out of the picture, but has driven men away from God. And this aid, proudly claiming to "know better", is itself what first turned the "third world" into what we mean today by that term. (Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth, Chap 2)

Cafod is in urgent need of renewal; other charities, such as "Mary's Meals" seem to be in that process right now!

Hi, i just surfed in searching for interesting blogs on Spirituality, you have a cool blog. Do keep up the good work. I'll be back even though i live far from where you live. its nice to be able to see what people from across the world thinks.

Warm Regards from the Other Side of the Moon.

On a related note perhaps you might find the following link interesting. Its propossing a theory and i'll like to hear your take on the subject via comments. See ya...

Fr Ray, one very good alternative to CAFOD is the "Christ the Healer Project". This is already supported by some Catholic High Schools in the UK. You will find a link on the Blog. Also, in Uganda there in the "Youth Alive" programme. Theis is also run in Zambia and Zimbabwe. Both these programmes teach behaviour change and are little known in the UK. (Perhaps because we need them as much as they are needed in Africa.)We actually need to discover more about these projects and promote them in the UK. This would be a very good way of challenging CAFOD. There is also the "Mary's Meals" charity - a link is listed on the Blog - which is something else we can support.

Ss Michael, Gabriel and Raphael

May the holy angels be our protection

Holy Michael the Archangel, defend us in the day of battle. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, thrust down to hell Satan and all the evil spirits who wander the world for the ruin of souls.

Blessed John Paul II

Apostle of the New Evangelisation

Christ offers you his friendship. He gave his life so that those who wish to answer his call can indeed become his friends.

St Paul the Apostle

Fearless evangeliser of the nations

"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. " Galatians 2.20

St Augustine of Hippo

Anti-Pelagian hero

Fecisti nos ad te et inquietum est cor nostrum donec requiescat in teYou have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts find no rest until they rest in you.

St John Mary Baptist Vianney

Role model of priesthood lived in its fulness

Le sacerdoce, c'est l'amour du coeur de Jésus.The priesthood is the love of the Heart of Jesus.

St Ignatius of Loyola

Taught the way to friendship with Christ through prayer

Take, O Lord, and receive my entire liberty, my memory, my understanding and my whole will. All that I am and all that I possess You have given me: I surrender it all to You to be disposed of according to Your will. Give me only Your love and Your grace; with these I will be rich enough, and will desire nothing more.

St Thomas More

Hero of the Catholic Faith in England

I die the king's faithful servant, but God's first.

St Maximilian Kolbe

A martyr for friendship

No one in the world can change truth. What we can and should do is seek truth and serve it when we have found it. The real conflict is within. Beyond the armies of occupation and the hectacombs of the extermination camps, two irreconcilable armies lie in the depth of every soul. And of what use are the victories of the battlefield if we are defeated in our innermost selves?

St Aelred of Rievaulx

Teacher in the ways of friendship

Friendship is a stage bordering upon that perfection which consists in that love and knowledge of God, so that man from a friend of his fellow man becomes a friend of God, according to the words of the Saviour in the Gospel: I will not now call you servants, but my friends.

St Justin, Martyr

Proto-Apologist for the Faith

"But straightaway a flame was kindled in my soul; and a love of the prophets, and of those men who are friends of Christ, possessed me...If, then, you have any concern for yourself, and if you are eagerly looking for salvation, and if you believe in God, you may-since you are not indifferent to the matter - become acquainted with the Christ of God, and, after being initiated, live a happy life."

St Margaret Clitherow

She died for the priesthood and the Mass together with her unborn child

I ground my faith upon Jesus Christ, and by Him I steadfastly believe to be saved, as is taught in the Catholic Church through all Christendom, and promised to remain with Her unto the world's end, and hell gates shall not prevail against it: and by God's assistance I mean to live and die in the same faith.